I wondered all morning. I wondered why I didn't hear Mandy Shotwell's singing voice from her house while I got ready for school. She would always sing Maroon 5 or The Pussycat Dolls while applying her makeup. I knew this because she was my next-door neighbor, and I could hear and see what she would do in the morning since her bedroom window was always wide open. She would always dress a little slutty for school, wearing low-cut shorts and push-up bras. I don't want to sound like a stalker saying all these things about her, but I can't help it. She is an open book. Always expressing herself. I even caught her smoking weed in her backyard with a few friends, but I didn't want to tell anyone. Not that I had the urge to, I just didn't care.
Anyways, I was really concerned about not seeing her that morning. The only good thing about her was that she never missed school. Shocked, right? Yeah, me too. I ended up with assuming that she was sick or slept in late. I walked past her house on my way to school, catching a glimpse of it before it was behind me. Maybe I would see Mandy at school. Even though she's a junior and I'm a freshman, I could at least try to find her at lunch.
I didn't.
After all of the annoying classes, popular girls, stupid guys and curiosity throughout the day, I walked back home. Still no sign of Mandy. Are you freaking kidding me?
I decided to go to her house and knock on her door. It wouldn't hurt to find out where she was. Even though it wasn't my business to know her business, I worried too much to care about that.
"Hello. there," said a pretty blonde woman. "May I help you?"
"Hi," I said with a crooked smile. "I'm Autumn, your neighbors' daughter. I was.... a little concerned about Mandy. I always hear her getting ready for school, but this morning I didn't. I was just wondering if she was alright. Is she sick?"
"Oh," she said. "No, she isn't. I actually haven't heard from her all day. Last night she was at her boyfriend's house, but she hasn't come home. She will be grounded, though. I'm going to try to contact her again in a minute."
I felt so confused. Like SO freaking confused. And worried.
"Oh, um. Alright," I replied. "Thank you."
Just as she was about to shut the door, I interrupted her. "Wait wait wait," I said quickly, "Where does her boyfriend live?"
"Oh, Terence?" she said. "He lives on 152 Larkspur Avenue. How come?"
"How come what?
"How come you want to know this?"
"Well, I just wanted to maybe... go over there and see. I'm a very caring person, especially to my neighbors and close ones. All I want to know is that she's alright."
"Alright. Thank you, Autumn."
While I was walking to Terence's house, my mom called me and asked where I was. I told her I stayed after school to audition for some play and that I would be home later. At least my mom cares about where I am, unlike Mandy's. Who the hell stays home all calm when their daughter is at their boyfriend's without contact?
Finally I arrived at his house. Knocked on the door. No one answered for almost a full minute. Just as I was about to knock again, the door opened.
"Yeah?" Terence asked. I knew it was him because it seemed like Mandy's type. He had tattooed arms and ear gages, bathed in the smell of alcohol.
I lowered my voice. "Uh, yeah, is Mandy here?
He hesitated. He freaking hesitated. "Yeah, she's sleeping."
Today... today was a weird day. Who knew I'd be so concerned about my neighbor? Why didn't I just stay out of the way? Well, I had a sinking feeling that morning. I literally worry about everything.
"Well, her mom... wants her home," I said slowly, "She's kind of worried. Please send her down here."
.............mhhmmmh......wha-.....wha-what?......w-where am I?.....unghhh.......I......I'm so confused........
I awake in a dark room with a sensation of pain all over me. I reach for my cell phone in my pocket to use as light to see. It wasn't in there. I checked my other pocket. Shit..... where is it? Where am I?
I hear the door slam open and the lights flicker on. Terence walks in. He gives me a dirty, angry look as I stare back at him in fear in return. What. Is. Going. On? He walks to a long table and takes off the sheet over it.... Mandy. It was Mandy. She was knocked out. Unconscious. And so was I before I woke up in this place.
She was tied up. Bruised.
"Don't you dare try to escape," Terence told me, "Or you'll get it, too."
What is happening?!? I would get it, too? What did that even mean?
He pulled out a dagger knife and pointed it at me. "This is gonna be ugly," he laughed. Just then he starts stabbing her side hip, slowly. Then he started stabbing her stomach, repeatedly. I wanted to faint and not watch the horror. All I did was bawl my eyes out, screaming. Blood everywhere. He throws the knife down and searches through a sack, pulling out a metal baseball bat. Although she was already dead, he obviously didn't get enough. He swung the bat at her head, bashing it completely. "You bitch!" he kept screaming, over and over. I was scared to death, tears running down my face. When he was finished, he put her destroyed body in a plastic bag, hiding it in the other room.
He comes back and grabs my hand forcefully, throwing me on the bloody table Mandy was murdered upon. He grabs the bat. And takes a swing. Towards me.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I scream in horror as I wake up. I feel my face. I feel everything around me. I'm no longer in pain. I'm no longer in a cold, dark room. I'm safe and warm in my bed. My mom rushes to my room. "Baby! What happened?!" she asks me, worried.
It was all a dream. Just. A dream. "It was just a nightmare, Mom," I tell her. "Don't worry."
"Oh, alright, sweetie," she tells me. "Well you should start getting ready for school now." I nod my head as she leaves the room. I sit on the side of my bed and stare ahead. What a bizarre dream I had... I mean, really. It was horrible. I shake it off and head my closet and grab clothes. As I get dressed, I realize something is wrong. It was quiet. Too quiet... I slowly walk by my window and look out to Mandy Shotwell's house. I heard no singing. Nothing at all.
